Once you’ve heard the story of the RNC 8, you think “what can I do to help?”

This list is a little outdated, but still a guide for contributing to the defense of the 8 and of our movements, especially if you can’t come to events in the Twin Cities.  If you’re going to be in the Twin Cities during trial in the fall of 2010, please check our current volunteer needs.  Thanks!

1) Distribute information and educate 8 of your friends about the case.  Then, ask them to sign the petition to drop the charges at www.RNC8.org.

2) Ask 8 friends to join you in donating to the defense fund.  Find out about the different ways to donate and the goodies we can send you in exchange at RNC8.org/donations.

3) Call and email Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner.  Be polite but firm in telling her that you won’t rest while she continues to pursue bogus charges, and that no good Democratic candidate for Governor would ever prosecute community organizers as terrorists: office — (651)266-3222, RCA@co.ramsey.mn.us; campaign — (612)978-8625, info@susangaertner.com

4) Write a letter to the editor, op-ed, or blog post about the case, and encourage journalists in your area to feature the RNC 8 and surrounding issues in their reports.  For starting points, check out RNC8.org/info. Refer press to press@rnc8.org or have them call our press officer at (612)886-4565.

5) Host an event in your community or at your school.  Screen part 3 of Terrorizing Dissent (www.terrorizingdissent.org), collect donations, and use the materials available at RNC8.org/propaganda.  Or come up with your own event ideas!  Let us know and we’ll promote it as best we can; make it easy for members of the RNC 8 or Friends of the RNC 8 to attend, and we’ll likely be able to find someone to speak.

6) Support the RNC 8 directly by being in the courtroom at their next court date, or by writing a letter: see RNC8.org/contact for the address.

7) Organize or attend an action to build political pressure for the RNC 8.  Whatever your preferred tactics and whatever your skills, we need all the tools in the toolkit available to keep the RNC 8 out of prison and reverse the tide of repression flowing from the RNC.  The state’s strength is its brute force; our strength is our imagination and autonomy.  Tell Friends of the RNC 8 what you’re doing or what you want to do and how we can help: email info@rnc8.org

8) Help support and defend the nearly 800 others are also facing legal repercussions in the RNC aftermath, including 15 others dealing with felony charges, many of whom have not yet gone to trial.  Visit the website or attend a meeting of the Community RNC Arrestee Support Structure (www.RNCaftermath.org).  Recognize too that the police state which rears its ugly head in Saint Paul is but one face of the many-headed hydra of repression surfacing in our communities on a daily basis.  Stand in solidarity with political prisoners and arrestees everywhere: as long as one of us is in prison, none of us are free!

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Some more on getting involved…:

Share:

• One simple thing that you can do is to share the story with your friends and family. Share this website with them. Email them a post or article.  Let them know that there is an event happening in their city. It’s important to get the word out that dissent is being criminalized, free speech is being shut down and most of the corporate media is not reporting on it. Let them know how the Patriot Act is really being used.

Donations:

• The legal fees for the RNC 8 are estimated at $250,000.  If you would like to contribute to the RNC 8 Legal Defense Fund, please visit our donation page.  There are several ways you can make a donation: Paypal, check and tax deductibe.  All donations are greatly appreciated.

Benefits and Fundraisers:

• Individuals, musicians and organizations from around the country are organizing fundraisers to benefit the RNC 8 Legal Defense Fund. Here are some ways that you can get involved:
• To attend a benefit for the RNC 8, check our Fundraiser page.
• To host a fundraiser to benefit the RNC 8 Legal Fund, email info@rnc8.org for more information, or one of the regional contacts listed on the Contacts page.
• To submit a benefit, fundraiser or event to be posted on the RNC8.org site send the following information to inthenews@rnc8.org
  • Title of event
  • Type of event (music, dinner, etc…)
  • If there is a performance, any info about the performer(s)
  • Venue
  • Location (including street address, city, State- so we can link up a map)
  • Any links (to the musician performing, to the venue’s site, etc…)
  • A short blurb
  • An email address contact for more information (if possible).  *Posted address will be encoded.*
  • Anything else that seems helpful to include

Events:

• In additions to fundraisers, there are also events being held around the country to discuss the events of the RNC in St. Paul and raise awareness of the suppression of protest that we saw in the Twin Cities.
• Check in on our Events page to see upcoming events.
• Information for submitting events to the site is the same as above.

Write:

Contact Government Officials: